Top holding device for wire screens



Aug. 31, 1954 A. LANG TOP 1101mm; DEVICE FOR WIRE SCREENS 26. 1948Original Filed April 2 Sheets Sheet 1 lillilill AGMQMAMHE a q c IATTVF/Vifi A. LANG TOP HOLDING DEVICE FOR WIRE SCREENS Aug. 31, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April //W!MW 415597' 14444 WWW PatentedAug. 31., 1954 TOP HOLDING DEVICE FOR WIRE SCREEN S Albert Lang,Oakland, Calif.

Continuation of application Serial No. 23,348, application February 4,

April 26, 1948.

This

1952, Serial N 0. 269,829

11 Claims. h 1 This invention relates to a holding structure for a wirescreen, More particularly, it relates to a holding strip and bracketassembly for detachably securing the upper edge of a frameless windowscreen to a window frame.

The present application is a continuation of my co-pending applicationentitled Top Holding Device for Wire Screen, Serial No. 23,348, filedApril 26, 1948, now abandoned.

In providing top holding structures for frameless window screens, it isdesirable that the parts be easily fabricated and easily assembled, and

that the assembly be easily manipulated by the user so that the windowscreen may be removed and inserted as desired. It is also desirable thata minimum of screws or nuts and bolts be employed in assembly of theparts and in mounting the screen in a window frame.

Devices used for the purpose hereteofore have been disadvantageous inseveral respects. Thus, they involve difliculty in fabrication of partsor are difficult to assemble, mount and manipulate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form ofholding structure for window screens and the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a top holdingstructure for window screens and the like which is easily fabricated,assembled, mounted and manipulated.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a top holdingstructure for a frameless window screen or the like, which employs aminimum of screws, nutsand bolts or the like, both in assembly and inmounting in a window frame.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a top holdingstructure for a frameless window screen or the like, including a bracketfor detachably mounting the structure in a window frame, such bracketbeing fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal and being. easilyinserted and removed yet serving to support the structure firmly andsecurely.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from theensuing description and the appendedclaims.

Several forms which the invention may assume are exemplified in thefollowing description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through a-window screen, showing thetop holding structure of this invention and also showing a bottomholding structure. 7

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the top holding structure, beingtaken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the top holding structure,showing it engaged with screws secured in a window frame.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Fig. l, but showing onlythe top holding structure and illustrating a second embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. .5 is a front elevational view.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, butshowing yet another embodiment. Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig.4, showing a fourth embodiment. I

m Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the same, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig.8.

Referring now to the drawings, a screen I is held and properly tensionedbetween a window sill 2 and the upper part 3 of a window frame, by meansof a top holding structure 4 and a bottom holding structure 5. As isusual, the top holding structure 4 is provided with a holding strip [0having a U-bend or bracket II, and the bottom structure 5 is providedwith a bottom holding strip 12 having an inverted U-bend I3. The screenI, suitably crimped as shown, is received within and held by frictionalengagement in the U-bends II and [3. It will be understood thatthescreen can be readily engaged and disengaged from either holdingstrip merely by sliding it relatively to the holding strip andlengthwise thereof.

Briefly, the bottom holding structure 5 comprises,.besides theabove-mentioned bottom holding strip [2, any desired number of spacedlatch ing brackets 14, each having a handle [5, a base I6 provided witha countersunk slot I! to receive a latching screw I8 and an invertedU-bend l9 engaging a slot 29 formed in the holding strip; and it alsoincludes a sealing strip 2| .slidably disposed between the brackets Idand bottom holding strip [2. Further details as to construction,assembly and manipulation of the bottom holding structure will be foundin my copending application, Ser. No. 23,347, entitled Bottom HoldingStructure for Wire Screen, filed April 26, 1948, now abandoned.

The top holding strip I0 is provided with a plurality of spaced,horizontally aligned slots 30 and 30a. Conveniently, for a screen ofordinary width, the slots 30, 39a are three in number, slot 30a beingthe middle. slotand slots 30 being the outer slots disposed near theside edges of the screen and being of greater length than themiddle slot30a for a reason explained hereinafter. A latching bracket 3| or 3|a isreceived within 30a, respectively. Each each of the slots 30 or latchingbracket 3| or 31d is provided with an outer end portion or tongue 32which is curved downwardly, as shown, and with an inner edge portion orear 33 bent to an L-shape, as shown, and having a horizontal leg 34terminating adjacentthe screen I. The middle bracket 3m is provided withan open-ended straight slot 35 adapted to register with and engage ascrew 36 mounted in the window frame, and each outer bracket 3| isprovided with an open-ended bayonet slot 31 adapted to register with ascrew 38 mounted in the window frame.

For convenience of illustration, only one outer bracket 3! is shown; butit will be understood that any desired number of such brackets may beused. For a window screen of ordinary width, two such outer brackets,each disposed near a side of the screen, are suflicient.

In assembling the top structure thus shown, outer tongues 32 of thelatching brackets 31 and 31a are inserted in the appropriate slots 30,30a formed in the holding strip l0, and the brackets are then pivoted soas to abut the tongues 32 against the top portion of the U-bend ll. Thewire screen I is then engaged with the U -bend in the usual manner bysliding its upper, crimped edge through the U-bend until the screen andholding strip are in proper alignment. With the screen thus properlyengaged with the holding strip, it will be seen that the horizontal legs34 of the inner ears 33 will lie in close proximity to the screen, andwill serve as looking members to prevent the latching brackets 3 l, 3 labecoming disengaged from the holding strips ill. The only way in whichthe brackets 3| can become disengaged (unless bent out of shape) is byremoval of the screen I to allow pivotal movement of the brackets in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

With the top structure thus assembled, the

. brackets 3 I, 3 la are next engaged with the screws 36 and 38 by firstaligning their slots 35 and 31 with the mating screws 33 and 38, thenpushing the brackets inwardly to seat the screws in the slots, and,finally, pushing the outer brackets 31 laterally (which is made possibleby the greater length of the outer slots 30) to seat the outer screws 38in the inner legs 40 of the bayonet slots 31. The structure is thusfirmly and securely supported upon the heads of the screws 36, 38against displacement in any direction.

To disassemble the structure, the brackets 31, cm are disengaged fromthe screws, the top structure is pulled out of the window frame, thescreen I is slid out of the U-bend i2 and the brackets 3|, 3la arepivoted to disengage them from the holding strip [0.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown another embodiment of theinvention whereby engagement of the bracket 3i (or 3ia) with the holdingstrip is obtained in a different manner. As will be seen, the tongue 32is slotted at 45 to provide a second tongue 46 which is bent upwardly,as shown, after the tongue 32 has been inserted in the slot 30 (or 30a).Thus, the bracket is securely locked in place without the use of a nutand bolt.

Somewhat similarly, in the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, thetongue 32a is unbent, it is slit at 4i and the slit portions are bentupwardly to provide tongues 48" which securely lock the bracket inplace.

Again, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the body portion of the bracket 3| (or3ia) is slit at 49 and the slit portion is bent downwardly to provide alocking tongue 50. As shown, the tongue 32b 4 is bent to verticalposition (the slot 30 or 30a being sufiiciently above the U-bend II toallow the same). Thus, the tongue 50 and tongue 32b efiectively lock thebracket to the holding strip.

lhe modifications illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9 are not quite as flexibleas that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, but it is evident that simplicity ofdesign and other advantageous features are retained.

t will also be apparent that the modified brackets 3| and 3la of Figs. 4to 9 may be packaged, displayed and sold separately, with the tongues46, 48 or 50, as the case may be, flush with the adjacent bracketstructure. It is a simple task for the user to insert the tongue 32, 32aor 32b in its slot and then bend the tongue 46, 48 or 50, as shown.

It will thus be seen a top holding structure for a wire screen isprovided which fulfills several desiderata. lihus, the parts are few innumber; the three screws employed are the only elements requiringinstallation on the job; and all of the parts are either standard itemsor are easily fabricated; and the structure is easily assembled,mounted, demounted and disassembled. The specially fabricated parts canbe made of aluminum, alloys of aluminum or any other structural metal,or even from plastic if desired, and the fabricating operations arelargely or wholly limited to standard, simple operations such ascutting, stamping, punching and bending. Welding and bolting of parts isunnecessary.

'While I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it isto be understood that various changes may be made in its construction bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A structure of the character described comprising an elongatedhorizontally arranged strip having an elongated vertical cross-sectionshape, said strip having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a mountingbracket having a fiat horizontally disposed portion adapted to lie fiatagainst a window frame and provided with a tongue receivable through theslot and bendable to engage the outer side of the strip, the part of thehorizontal portion within the slot being of lesser width than the slotto enable longitudinal movement of the bracket relative to the strip,said bracket having another portion extending from the inner edge of thehorizontal portion to a point below the bottom of the strip passingbeneath the strip when the bracket is pivoted on the strip to facilitateattachment and detachment of the bracket relative to the strip, saidbracket being provided with a bayonet slot adapted to receive anattaching means mounted on a window frame,.the bayonet slot beingdisposed directly rearwardly of the bent edge of the horizontal portionof the bracket and the tongue having line contact as contrasted withpoint contact with said strip to prevent twisting of the bracket duringengagement with the screw.

2. A structure of the character described, comprising an elongatedhorizontally arranged strip having a vertically elongated cross-sectionshape,

.said strip having a longitudinal slot formed width than the slot toenable longitudinal movement of the bracket relative tothe strip, saidbracket having a handle portion depending from the inner edge of thehorizontal portion and by which the bracket may be manipulated, saidbracket being provided with a bayonet slot adapted to receive anattaching means mounted on a window frame, said bayonet slot beingdisposed directly rearwardly of the bent edge of the horizontal portionof the bracket and the bent edge having line contact as contrasted withpoint contact with said strip to prevent twisting of the bracket duringengagement with screw.

3. A holding device for a wire screen or the like, comprising a holdingstrip adapted to engage and hold a wire screen, and having a slotextending therethrough, and a mounting bracket having a tongue seated insaid slot, said bracket and said tongue being an integral unit and saidtongue having oppositely directed abutment members abutting adjacentportions of the strip and thereby locking the bracket to the holdingstrip.

4. A mounting bracket adapted to engage a slotted screen-holding stripand to be secured to a window frame, said bracket being an integralunit, being provided with a tongue adapted to extend through a slot inthe screen holding strip and being also provided with abutment membersintegral therewith and adapted to abut the front and back of saidholding strip to lock the bracket and holding strip together.

5. A bracket as in claim 4, wherein said tongue is bent in one directionto serve as an outer abutment member and the bracket is provided with anoffset portion spaced from the bent portion of said tongue, said offsetserving as a complemental inside abutment member.

6. A holding device for mounting a screen over a framed openingcomprising a strip connected to an edge of the screen alongsubstantially its entire length and provided with slots positioned inlongitudinally spaced relation between its ends, said slots beinglongitudinally alined and spaced outwardly from the edge of the screen,headed retainers fixedly secured to the frame of the opening to conformto the spacing of the slots, supporting brackets seating upon the frameadjacent the retainers, and tongues upon the brackets projectingoutwardly through the slots and bent to effect retaining engagement withthe outer face of the strip, said tongues being slidably movablelongitudinally along the slots to facilitate movement of the bracketsinto and out of engagement with the retainers.

7. A device for mounting a screen over a framed opening comprising astrip connected toi an edge of the screen and provided with alongitudinally disposed slot spaced outwardly from the edge of thescreen, a headed retainer fixedly mounted upon the opening frame andprojecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the slot, and a bracket seatingagainst the frame adjacent the retainer, said bracket being slotted toreleasably engage the retainer and provided with a tongue extendingthrough the slot and bent to engage the outer face of the strip, saidtongue being slidably movable lengthwise along the slot to facilitatemovement of the bracket into and out of engagement with the retainer.

8. A device for mounting a screen over a framed opening comprising astrip connected to an edge of the screen and provided with alongitudinally disposed slot spaced outwardly from the edge of thescreen, a headed retainer fixedly mounted upon the opening frame andprojecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the slot, and a bracket seatingagainst the frame adjacent the retainer, said bracket being slotted toreleasably engage the retainer and provide wtih a tongue extendingthrough the slot and bent in a direction toward the screen edge intoengagement with the outer face of the strip, said tongue being slidablymovable lengthwise along the slot to facilitate movement of the bracketinto and out of engagement with the retainer.

9. A device for mounting a screen over a framed opening comprising astrip connected to an edge of the screen and provided with alongitudinally disposed slot spaced outwardly from the edge of thescreen, a headed retainer fixedly mounted upon the opening frame andprojecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the slot, and a bracket seatingagainst the frame adjacent the retainer, said bracket being slotted toreleasably engage the retainer and provided with a tongue extendingthrough the slot and having portions thereof bent in opposite directionsinto locking engagement with the outer face of the strip upon oppositesides of the slot, said tongue being slidably movable lengthwise alongthe slot to facilitate movement of, the bracket into and out ofengagement with the retainer.

10. A device for mounting a screen over a framed opening comprising astrip connected to an edge of the screen and provided with alongitudinally disposed slot spaced outwardly from the edge of thescreen, a headed retainer fixedly mounted upon the opening frame andprojecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the slot, and a bracket seatingagainst the frame adjacent the retainer, said bracket being slotted toreleasably engage the retainer and provided with a tongue extendingthrough the slot and having end portions bent in a direction away fromthe edge of the screen into locking engagement with the outer face ofthe strip, said tongue being slidably movable lengthwise along the slotto facilitate movement of the backet into and out of engagement with theretainer.

11. A device for mounting a screen over a framed opening comprising astrip connected to an edge of the screen and provided with alongitudinally disposed slot spaced outwardly from the edge of thescreen, a headed retainer fixedly mounted upon the opening frame andprojecting inwardly therefrom adjacent the slot, and a bracket seatingagainst the frame adjacent the retainer, said bracket being slotted toreleasably engage the retainer and provided with a tongue extendingthrough the slot, and an abutment bent to form an inside abutmentengaging the back of the strip, the outwardly extending tongue beingbent to hold the strip against the abutment, and said tongue beingslidably movable lengthwise along the slot to facilitate movement of thebracket into and out of engagement with the retainer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,961,383 Nye et al June 5, 1934 2,297,091 Wells Sept. 29,1942 2,318,955 Milnor May 11, 1943 2,372,912 Rust Apr. 3, 1945

